Self-Transformation: The Ancients Were Supremely Advanced

Although I adopt many philosophies and moral codes from various religions, I am a spiritual being with no direct religious affiliation. I must admit that I’m a big fan of the Dalai Lama, and I just finished taking a class called “Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism” (at the University of Michigan) in an effort to better understand his culture and religion.

Let me first say that this class was profoundly interesting, and the man responsible, Professor Donald Lopez, Jr., was truly world-class… as to be expected. He happens to be one of the foremost authorities of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. I had no idea that I would learn so much about myself in a class that discussed a culture that was so different from my own.

One of the readings for the class was “The Life of Milarepa.” The author/translator provides an introduction to the book, which draws out many universal Buddhist philosophies, as well as provides a snapshot of the life of the mythical Milarepa, a beloved saint of Buddhism. Even though my professor feels that the intro to this book is “new agey,” the level of wisdom and insight the ancients had obtained jumped off the page and grabbed my attention. I would like to share one particular piece of the intro with you:

“But the sense of self, of ego or I, is not the same thing as
consciousness; it is a form that consciousness takes under certain
conditions which in man are connected with the senses and the complex
organization of forces and substances that make up the human body.
In meditation man seeks to establish a relationship between the sense
of self and consciousness, which is its root and foundation…
…The relationship between consciousness, thought, emotion, and the
stupendous complexity and potentiality of the human body in all its
functions is a subject about which a great deal must be understood
before a person can be accurately guided along the path of
self-transformation. We modern people have special difficulties here
because we have abandoned the mythic language of earlier traditions, a
language that resonated with the deeper mental structures of human
beings according to their hereditary conditioning. Our own language is
scientific, that is to say, based on sensory experience and abstract
generalizations—the latter being a function of the mind, which is
relatively the same in all human beings, unconditioned by innate
forces of feeling and instinct and therefore unresponsive to the truth
and power which these innate forces embody. ”

What does this passage mean to you?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

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About Author

Chris Willitts is the founder of Mindful Muscle and a prominent advocate of integrating mindful practices and strength training. He believes that meditation is one of the most important things you can do for your overall state of well-being, next to nutrition and exercise.

Be sure to check out Mindful Muscle’s philosophy on mindful strength training: The Mindful Method.

At the vibrant age of 30, strength training has been a vital part of Chris’s life for over 16 years. Since meditation has more recently entered his life, he has been compelled to explore the virtually untapped vastness of consciousness.

In addition to Chris’s role at Mindful Muscle, he is a part-time web designer (www.positivelywired.com) and a full-time student at the University of Michigan with concentrations in psychology, business, and Asian studies. He also serves as a student panelist for the university.

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